Spend Matters UK and a witty take on DE&S GoCo

Given the news about the reunion, and with apologies to our younger, non-Monty Python aware readership, we thought this was appropriate….

Pet Shop Owner (B. Gray, esq.): Morning, how can I help?

Philip Hammond: I wish to make a complaint.

BG: We’re closed for equalities training. And Lent.

PH: Never mind that my lad. I’m the Minister. I wish to complain about this Government Owned, Contractor Operated competition for Defence Equipment and Support what I purchased not half an hour ago from this very boutique.

BG: Ooh yes, he’s a lovely GoCo isn’t he. What’s wrong with it?

PH: I’ll tell you what’s wrong with it, my lad. It’s dead, that’s what’s wrong with it! Another consortium has pulled out of the process, citing lack of commercial viability under the proposed draft contract.

BG: No, no, it’s only resting. It’ll be fine in the morning.
Read the whole parody at:

http://spendmatters.co.uk/mod-goco-pining-for-the-fiords/

PCS calls for an end to DE&S GOCO competition

News agency Reuters has today announced that the U.S. engineering firm CH2M Hill had withdrawn from the bidding process to run Britain's weapons buying agency as it was not commercially viable.

The firm was leading one of two consortiums bidding to run Britain's Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) unit, in a team with Serco and Atkins.

"After much detailed scrutiny, our solution which would have met the objectives of the GOCO tender was not as commercially viable for the consortium as we would have required, under the proposed draft contract," the firm said in a statement.

The other bid team was led by Bechtel, another U.S. engineering firm, supported by PricewaterhouseCoopers and PA Consulting.

Our union is now calling on the Secretary of State for Defence to abandon this failed competition and to recognise that UK defence procurement needs to remain in house, delivered by committed, motivated and well rewarded civil servants.